Warrick Nicolson | 07/02/08
STATE OF PLAY
Ricky Stuart’s first year in charge of the club may not have delivered a playoff appearance but the side took on a different persona under the Australian coach’s tutelage.
A horror stretch when they won just once between Rounds 11 to 21 scuttled their season but over the final month of 2007 the team beat Parramatta and narrowly lost to the Storm, proving they could compete with the big boys.
Last 3 Finishes:
2005: 7th
2006: 13th
2007: 11th
ROSTER ROUND-UP
Because Stuart only agreed to take over the reigns late in the 2006, he had to wait until this current off-season to start cleaning out the roster of players he didn’t believe would fit in his system.
The club shed Adam Dykes, Craig Stapleton, Josh Hannay, Phil Leuluai, Cameron Ciraldo, Anthony Watts and Dayne Weston.
After a brief pursuit of Willie Mason, the Sharks settled on the roster already assembled.
Cronulla’s strength has traditionally been up front and 2008 will be no different, even if international Greg Bird stays at five-eighth where he tore up the Kiwis in the October Test Match.
Returning from a long stay on the injury list, Lance Thompson will be a quality addition to the line-up alongside Ben Ross, Reece Williams, Luke Douglas and Paul Gallen.
On paper at least, the Sharks don’t lack much in the engine room. Fringe forwards Jacob Selmes and Eddie Sua will have to see off new boys Adam Peek, Bryan Norrie and Kade Snowden for regular spots on the bench.
Kevin Kingston was supplanted by Isaac De Gois at hooker over the last few weeks of the season.
De Gois’s form during that stretch was so good he should hold onto the role, for the trials at least.
Brett Kearney was a surprising success at fullback last year before he got hurt so he should have the inside running on a position the Sharks have yet to fill permanently since David Peachey left.
Still light on strike weapons out wide (unless Canterbury recruit Karl Filiga is the second coming of Mal Meninga); the Sharks will make do with a combination of Fraser Anderson, Ben Pomeroy, Mitch Brown, David Simmons, Misi Taulapapa and recent Kiwi Test winger Luke Covell.
Filiga played in the centres in the junior ranks at the Bulldogs but may be converted into a backrow so he can be used from the bench as a utility.
Now 31, halfback Brett Kimmorley has missed 17 games in the past two seasons and despite the fan base wanting change in the #7, he’ll be Stuart’s go-to man if healthy.
But he will be pressured by Brett Seymour who impressed a lot of people with his desire to stick with the club midway through 2007 when he was told by Stuart he had no future at the Sharks.
Also arriving at the club is Blake Green a versatile half/hooker from Parramatta and Sydney Roosters utility Grant Millington.
STRONGEST LINE-UP
1. KEARNEY, Brett
2. SIMMONS, David
3. POMEROY, Ben
4. ANDERSON, Fraser
5. COVELL, Luke
6. BIRD, Greg
7. KIMMORLEY, Brett
8. ROSS, Ben
9. DE GOIS, Isaac
10. DOUGLAS, Luke
11. WILLIAMS, Reece
12. THOMPSON, Lance
13. GALLEN, Paul
14. FILIGA, Karl
15. NORRIE, Bryan
16. SNOWDEN, Kade
17. GREEN, Blake
FEARLESS FORECAST
The premiership has so far eluded Cronulla-Sutherland since they joined the competition in 1967 and the club last appeared in a Grand Final in 1997, so the Sharks supporters have been a long suffering bunch.
This coming season should see the team contend for a spot in the finals but a premiership may be pushing things.
PREDICTED RECORD: 10-14
PREDICTED FINISH: 12th
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